Puff Yourself to Death: Are Electronic Cigarettes and Other Nicotine Vaporizers Legal in Tennessee Restaurants and Bars?

06.30.14
E-cigarettes have ignited a controversy among state and federal regulators. Willie Nelson sums it up:

Smoke smoke smoke that cigarette Puff puff puff And if you smoke yourself to death Tell St Peter at the Golden Gate That you hate to make him wait But you just gotta have another cigarette

We did a little research on the issue and, as of now, it is legal to have an e-smoke at a bar or restaurant in Tennessee. A call to the local health department confirms that e-smoking is legit. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration is looking into rules for vaping, but as of now, e-cigarettes are legal.

The Federal Airline Administration has banned e-cigarettes, not because of health concerns, but because there is insufficient information about possible interference with aircraft navigation. E-cigarettes are electronic devices.

Interestingly, Sumner and Rutherford county jails have approved of e-cigarettes, presumably because of the revenue stream.

Stay tuned for more on this emerging legal issue. Thanks to intern and recent Vanderbilt grad Jaziree Smith for her research on vaping.